USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: May 21, 2018

May 21, 2018 10:38 AM - Updated: July 3, 2018 10:30 AM
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The USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker is sponsored by CNA. These are the approximate positions of the U.S. Navy’s deployed carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups throughout the world as of May 21, 2018, based on Navy and public data. In cases where a CSG or ARG is conducting disaggregated operations, the map reflects the location of the capital ship.

Total U.S. Navy Battle Force:

283

Ships Underway

Deployed Ships Underway Non-deployed Ships Underway Total Ships Underway
37 26 63

Ships Deployed by Fleet

Fleet Forces 3rd Fleet 4th Fleet 5th Fleet 6th Fleet 7th Fleet Total
0 1 1 16 21 48 87

In the Eastern Mediterranean Sea

Sailors on the landing safety officer (LSO) platform watch as an F/A-18 Super Hornet lands on the flight deck aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) on May 15, 2018. US Navy Photo

The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (CSG) deployed from Norfolk on April 11 and has been conducting air operating in support of Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR) since May 3, according to the Navy.

“Operating from the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, aircraft from Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1’s strike fighter squadrons conducted sorties over Syria, demonstrating HSTCSG’s ability to support two different geographic combatant commanders simultaneously,” reads a statement from the service announcing the start of Truman CSG air operations.

The Truman CSG is scheduled to operate in both the U.S. 6th Fleet and U.S. 5th Fleet areas of responsibility while deployed.

Carrier Strike Group 8

Aircraft carrier:
USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75), homeported in Norfolk, Va.

Carrier Air Wing 1

CVW 1 from Naval Air Station Oceana, Va., is embarked aboard Harry S. Truman and includes nine squadrons and detachments:

  • The “Red Rippers” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 11 from Naval Air Station Oceana, Va.
  • The “Checkmates” of VFA-211 from Naval Air Station Oceania, Va.
  • The “Sunliners” of VFA-81 from Naval Air Station Oceana, Va.
  • The “Knighthawks” of VFA-136 from Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif.
  • The “Rooks” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 137 from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash.
  • The “Seahawks” of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 126 from Naval Air Station Norfolk, Va.
  • The “Rawhides” of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 40 from Naval Air Station Norfolk, Va.
  • The “Dragon Slayers” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 11 from Naval Air Station Norfolk, Va.
  • The “Proud Warriors” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM 72) from Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Fla.

Destroyer Squadron 28

Sailors extinguish a simulated fire during a crash and salvage training exercise on the flight deck aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Bulkeley (DDG-84) on May 7, 2018. US Navy Photo

The leadership of DESRON 28 is embarked aboard Harry S. Truman and commands the CSG’s guided-missile destroyers.

  • USS Farragut (DDG-99), homeported in Mayport, Fla.
  • USS Forrest Sherman (DDG-98), homeported in Norfolk, Va.
  • USS Bulkeley (DDG-84), homeported in Norfolk, Va.
  • USS Arleigh Burke (DDG-51), homeported in Norfolk, Va.

The Sachsen-class German frigate FGS Hessen (F 221) is also operating as part of the strike group during the first half of the deployment.

Guided-missile destroyers USS Jason Dunham (DDG-109) and USS The Sullivans (DDG-68) are slated to deploy at a later date and will join the strike group in theater.

Guided-missile Cruiser
USS Normandy (CG-60), homeported in Norfolk, Va.

Additionally in the Mediterranean, dock landing ship USS Oak Hill (LSD-51) and components of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) transited the Suez on May 16 and are in the Mediterranean.

In the Western Pacific

Sailors from deck department man the phone-and-distance line on the flight deck as MH-60S Sea Hawks, assigned to Military Sealift Command (MSC) dry cargo/ammunition ship USNS Cesar Chavez (T-AKE-14), deliver ordnance to the Navy’s forward-deployed aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) on May 15, 2018. US Navy Photo

Forward-deployed carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) returned to Yokosuka, Japan, on May 18 after a week of sea trials following several months of maintenance that kicked off in January.

However, further carrier-landing practice was delayed due to a material issue that arose during the sea trials.

“USS Ronald Reagan successfully completed Sea Trials on [Thursday]. However, during operational testing and verification of all systems during Sea Trials, a material issue was identified that requires repair,” Lt. Cmdr. Matt Knight, a Task Force 70 spokesman, told Stars and Stripes in a May 17 report. “The repair will result in a delay to the scheduled departure date for USS Ronald Reagan and Carrier Strike Group 5.”

Amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD-1) is in port Sasebo, Japan.

In Nha Trang, Vietnam

Ensign Jenna Misuraca, currently assigned to Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH-19), plays with a girl who attends the Khan Hoa Center for Disabled Children during a community event in support of Pacific Partnership 2018 (PP18) on May 21, 2018. US Navy Photo

Hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) is in Vietnam as part of Pacific Partnership 2018. This is the fourth time a U.S. ship has stopped in Nha Trang, Vietnam, as part of the annual exercise.

“Vietnam has for years participated in the annual exercise, including hosting a variety of U.S. Navy ships. Mercy has visited the country a few times. In 2007 amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA-5) stopped in Vietnam as part of that year’s Pacific Partnership, providing a variety of medical, dental, and educational services to the country’s citizens,” reported USNI News.

In the Red Sea

An MV-22B Osprey, attached to VMM 162 Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 162 (Reinforced), prepares for take-off on the flight deck aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7) on May 16, 2018. US Navy photo.

Amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7) is in the Red Sea. The Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) is operating in a disaggregated manner, with some units in the Mediterranean Sea and some in the Red Sea.

The Iwo Jima ARG with the 26th MEU deployed on Feb. 7 from Mayport, Fla. The ARG includes Iwo Jima, Oak Hill, amphibious transport dock USS New York (LPD-21), Fleet Surgical Team (FST) 8 and FST-4, Helicopter Sea Combat squadron (HSC) 28, Tactical Air Control Squadron (TACRON) 22, components of Naval Beach Group (NBG) 2 and the embarked staff of Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 4.

In the Western Atlantic

Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) 2nd Class Christopher Bullock, of Newport News, Virginia, assigned to USS Gerald R. Ford’s (CVN-78) air department, directs an MH-60S helicopter assigned to the Chargers of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 26 as it departs the ship’s flight deck on May 19, 2018. US Navy Photo

USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) is in underway in the Virginia Cape Operating Areas.

In addition to these major formations, not shown are thousands of others serving in submarines, individual surface ships, aircraft squadrons, SEALs, Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Forces, Coast Guard cutters and more serving throughout the globe.

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